The Falcons are talking to free agent linebacker James Laurinaitis this week about potentially joining the team and his arrival could signal a change to how the Falcons will deploy their linebackers in 2016.
Shifts on that front won’t include allowing starting middle linebacker Paul Worrilow to leave without compensation, however. Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports that the Falcons are extending a second-round tender worth $2.553 million to the three-year veteran.
Worrilow has missed one game since signing with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and has started 43-of-48 games during his three seasons with the team. He’s racked up big tackle numbers over that time, but both the Laurinaitis visit and reported interest in free agent-to-be Danny Trevathan suggest that the team is open to other options in the middle of their defense.
McClure reports the team extended the same level tender to right tackle Ryan Schraeder, who is coming off a 16-start season that saw him emerge as perhaps the top performer on Atlanta’s offensive line. That performance probably would have led to interest with no compensation attached, but we’ll have to see if any team is wiling to make a push now.
